Sewing machine



4 Sheets-Sheet 1 NVENTOR.

ATTORN Y May 14, 1946.' G, SAUER SEWING MACHINE f Original Filed Dec. 30. 1939 Inh i N @EN May 14, 1946. G. SAUER 2,400,212

' SEWING MACHINE Original Filed Dec. 50, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR l ATTORNEY G. SAUER SEWING MACHINE May 14, 194s.

Original Filed Dec. 30, 1939 .4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I N V EN TOR ATTORNEY -May 14, 1946. G. SAUER SEWING MACHINE original Filed nec. 3o, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 -S HU@ Pf LUL 1 LNG IBN INr INVENTOR A TTORNE Patented May 14, 1946 SEWING MACHINE George Sauer, Berwyn, Ill., assgnor to Union Special Machine Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Original application December 30, 1939, Serial No.

311,722. Divided and this application February 26,1943, Serial No. 477,188

1 claim. (c1. i12- 256) This invention relatesl to sewing machines of the at bed type and more particularly to machines of the lock stitch type, although some of its features may be employed with advantage in sewing machines of other types.

The present case is a division of application Ser. No. 311,722, filed on December 30, 1939, now matured into Patent No. 2,345,992, dated April 4, 1944.

A primary object of the invention has been to provide a simple, automatic, circulating, lubrication system for the various operating parts of a machine of the character indicated, thereblr obviating dependence upon operators unfamiliar with the inner workings of the machine to keep the parts properly lubricated. Breakdowns of the machine are thus` avoided or reduced to a minimum and the useful life of the machine is increased.

Another object has been to provide a simple, compact and effective construction in which the lubricating oil is kept in constant circulation within the machine and delivered to the desired points without the employment of any devices or means in addition to those regularly employed for the normal functioning of the machine.

A further object of the invention has been to enclose within the frame of a machine achieving the foregoing objects, all of the moving parts of the various mechanisms of the machine with the exception of those operating directly upon the work being sewed. This not only facilitates the effective lubrication of the parts but also eliminates the projection of moving parts which might catch and tear the work or the clothing of the operator or otherwise cause injury to the operator.

A specific object of that portion of the invention to be covered by the present divisional case is the provision of an improved frame construction capable of preventing the escape of oil at those points at which the stitching and work feeding devices, or their Operating means, protrude through the frame of the machine to the exterior. Soiling of the work being sewed is thus prevented.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description of an illustrative embodiment of the same which will now be given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. I is a View in vertical longitudinal section of a lock stitch sewing machine embodying the present invention.

Fig. II is a horizontal plan section taken in a plane below the level of the work support of the machine.

Fig. III is a view partly in elevation and partly in cross section taken as approximatelyindicated Iby the angled arrows III-III in Figs. I and II, with the cover of the needle head removed to expose the parts at the interior.

Fig. 1V is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view taken as indicated by the angled arrows IV-IV in Figs. II and VI.

Fig. V is a cross section through the base of the machine taken as indicated by the angled arrows V-V in Figs. I, II and VI.

Fig. VI is a fragmentary view in plan of the top of the machine base which constitutes the work support, with a supplemental cover plate removed therefrom to expose channelling through which oil is distributed for the lubrication of certain of the moving parts of the mechanism within the machine base.

Fig. VII is a detail View in perspective of one of the pivot shafts embodied in the feed mechanism of the machine; and

Fig. VIII is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken as indicated by the angled arrows VIII-VIII in Figs. II and III.

With reference rst more particularly to Figs. I-V it will be observed that the machine chosen for exemplification of my invention has a hollow work-supporting base I with a top wall 2, front and rear side walls 3 and 4 and end walls 5 and 6. The hollow 1 of the ibase I is closed at the bottom, with interposition of a sealing gasket 8, by a removable cover plate 9 and is employed as a sump for oil which is normally maintained at the level indicated at L. Rising from the base I at one end is a hollow standard ID, which, at the bottom, communicates directly with the chamber 1 and with which is integrally formed a hollow arm Il. As shown, the arm Il overreaches the =base I and terminates at its free end in a hollow head I2. A crosswise partition I3 isolates the hollow of the head I2 from the hollow of the arm` Il, which latter, at its rear end, communicates directly with the hollow of the standard I0 as best shown in Fig. I. EX- tending longitudinally through the arm Il and journalled in bushings l5 and I6 set respectively into the partition I3 and the rear wall of the standard I0 is a rotary shaft I1. As shown, this shaft I1 protrudes to the exterior of the frame armat its right hand end and at its outer end carries a combined hand and belt wheel I8 by which the machine may be operated either manually or under power.

Confined t axial reciprocation in bushings I9 and 20 respectively at the top and bottom of the head I2, is a bar 2|, which, at its lower end, carries a needle Z2. Through a link connection 23 with a crank pin 25 on a disk 26 at the end of the shaft I1 within the hollow of the head I2, the needle bar 2| is given its reciprocating motion. Rotation of the needle bar 2| within its bearings is prevented through engagement of the outer end of the lower pivot pin 21 for the link 23 in a vertically-grooved guide 28 interiorly of the head I2. From Fig. I it will be noted that the drive shaft I1 also has journal support in a sleeve 29 set into a pendant bearing lug 39 within the hollow of the needle arm II. As shown in Fig. II, the front wall of the base is angularly recessed as at 35 to accommodate the loop taker of the machine, which, in this instance, has the form of a rotary hook 36 and which cooperates with the needle 22 beneath the work support 2 in stitch formation. The rotary hook 36 is secured to the protruding end of a shaft 31 which extends through a bearing sleeve 38 fixed in the end wall 5 of the base. Within the chamber 1, the sleeve is supported in a bearing lug 39 pendant from the top wall 2 of the base, see Fig. I, while the inner end of the hook shaft 31 extending beyond the sleeve is journalled in a shorter sleeveY or bushing 38a set into another pendant lug 40 Within said base spaced from the lug 39. Through a pair of intermeshing spur gears 4I and 427 the hook shaft 31 is driven from a rotary shaft 43 which extends longitudinally of the chamber 1 and which is journalled in bearings respectively provided by the end wall 5, the lug 39 and a web projection 45 (Figs. I and II) extending forwardly from the rear wall 4 within the base. By means of a train of intermeshing spur'gears 46, 41 and 48 within the hollow of the standard I0, the lower shaft 43 is driven from the upper shaft I 1 in the same direction and at the same speed. It is, however, to be noted that the ratio of the spur gears 4| and 42 is such as to impart two revolutions to the hook shaft 31 for each revolution of the upper shaft I1 from which the needle bar 2| is actuated.

The feed mechanism of the machine includes a feed dog 59, the teeth of which operate upwardly through slots 5I in a throat plate 52 set into the inner end of a cut-out 53 in a cover plate 54 which is in turn set into a depression 55 in the upper surface of the top wall 2 of the base at the front end of the latter, see Figs. I, III and VI. From Fig. III, it will be observed that the feed dog 59 is secured, with capacity for vertical adjustment, to a carrier 56 having` a cylindric shank which extends inwardly through a clearance opening 51 in the longitudinally offset portion 58 of the front wall 5 of the base I. The inner end of the carrier bar 56 is secured by set screws 59 in a socket member 60 having a transverse boss 6I (see also Fig. II) in which a pin 62 is in turn secured for pivotal connection to the top of a rocker 63. This rocker 63 reaches upwardly from a rock shaft 65 journalled at its opposite ends in bushings 66 and 61 respectively set into the end wall 5 of the base and into the laterally offset portion 68 of the rear wall 4 (Fig, IV). Also secured to the rock shaft 65 within the chamber 1 is an upwardly extending arm 69, which, through a telescopic link 'I9 is connected to the strap 1| of an actuating eccentric 12 on the shaft 43. Under the iniluence of the eccentric 12 and the interposed shaft 15 is provided with another arm 19 which is urged counter-clockwise, as viewed from the right in Fig. II, by a torsion spring and against which the inner end of an adjusting rod 8| (Figs. II and III) abuts. At its outer end the rod 8| is provided with a knurled manipulating head 83. For further details as to the arrange- Vment and operation of the rod 8| and other parts of the feed regulating means, reference may be had to the patent to Sauer and Smith, No. 2,035,508, granted on March 31, 1936. Lifting and lowering movements are imparted to the feed dog 50 from a crank 85 at the outer (left hand) end (Fig. II) of the lower shaft 43, said crank being connected through a vertical link 86 with a curved depending arm 81 on the carrier 56 for the feed dog 59. The construction and operation of the entire feed mechanism just described is substantially identical with that disclosed in the above mentioned Sauer and Smith patent, to which reference may be had for details if found necessary.

In its feeding action, the dog 59 reacts with a presser foot 90 pivotally connected to a shank member 9| at the lower end of a presser bar 92. As shown in Fig. III, the presser bar 92 extends up through a bearing in the bottom of the needle head I2, and, within the hollow of the latter, carries a collar 93 against which the lower end of a helical compression spring 95 bears. At its top, the spring 95 abuts the upper bearing sleeve SI5 for the rod 92, which sleeve is threaded for adjustment in the needle head I2 so that the pressure of the spring may be regulated as desired yor required. Any suitable means may be provided for raising the presser foot 90 to facilitate insertion of the work beneath it initially. A preferred construction for this purpose is disclosed but since it forms no part of the invention herein claimed it is not described.

As previously pointed out, the hollow of the base I of the machine is utilized as an oil sump. For the purpose of circulating the oil within the machine to lubricate the various enclosed parts, the oil is lifted from the supply as a consequence of the dipping thereinto of the gear 48 on the lower shaft 43. The oil thus lifted is further carried up by the gears 41, 46 and by the high speed rotation of the latter, dispersed in the form of a mist within the hollow of the standard I9 and the connecting hollow of the frame arm II. Some of this dispersed oil finds its way into a pocket IIII (Fig. I) at the top of the right hand end bearing I6 for the drive shaft I1 and is conducted through a port III to the shaft surface within said bearing, any excess oil being returned into the base by way of a duct I I 2 at the bottom of said bearing. Part of the dispersed oil is also caught by the open rear end II3 of a tube I I5 which extends horizontally forward within the hollow of the frame arm II and through the partition I3 into the needle head I2. The means for delivering the oil from the tube I|5 to the various bearing surfaces to be lubricated and for returning the excess oil from a collecting sump in the needle head to the main sump in the base is disclosed and claimed in the beforementioned parent application, Ser. No. 311,722. Reference may be had to said parent case for a full disclosure thereof. Some of the dispersed oil is, moreover, caught in a well |25 (Fig. I) integrally formed with the machine frame within the standard Ill above the lower shaft 43. Leading horizontally from the well |25 through the top wall 2 of the machine base is a duct |26 which delivers into a channel |28 formed in the depressed free end portion 55 of said top wall, see Figs. I, IV, V and VI. As shown, this channel |28 is broadened as at |29 for the purposes of a shallow distribution reservoir which is closed at the top by the removable cover plate 54 and sealed by a gasket |3|. A plurality of wick filled holes |32, |33, |34, |35, |36 and |31 lead from the distribution reservoir and carry oil to the various parts of the mechanism Within the base. As shown in Fig. IV the hole |32 is directly over the open protruding end |38 (see also Fig. VII) of the pivot pin 62 for the feed dog carrier 56, said pin being axially hollow and provided at the bottom with ports |39 by which the oil is released into the bearings for said pin in the rocker 63. The oil release hole |33 (Fig. IV) is in turn positioned over a port |49 in the top of the rocker arm 69, while the holes |34 and |35 (Fig. V) discharge oil into ports |4| and |42 (Fig. II) at the pivots of the lazy bar 11. Oil passing throimh the hole |36 serves to lubricate the feed advance eccentric 1 I; and that escaping through the hole |31 drips into a duct |43 leading down into the left hand end bearing for the shaft 43. A wick filled tube |45 (Fig. II) extending laterally from the duct |43 carries oil for release upon the feed lift crank 66 on the protruding end of the shaft 43. Also leading down from the reservoir |29 through the wall portion 68 of the base is a duct |46 (Fig. IV) which delivers oil into a port |41 in the bearing 66 for the `feed rocker shaft 65 which is hollow, and which receives the oil from the port |41 through a connecting port |48 in said shaft. By way of other lateral ports |49 and |50 in the shaft 65, some oil finds its way to the surfaces of the rocker 63 requiring lubrication. The bearing 66 for the rocker shaft 65 is closed at one end by a screw plug |5| and the axial duct of said shaft is closed by a screw plug |52. Another pair of holes, |53 and |55, leading from the bottom of the reservoir |29 release oil into ports |56 and |51 which extend down through the lug 39 to the bearings respectively for the rotary hook shaft 38 and the lower actuating shaft 43 of the machine. The hole shown at |58 in Figs. V and VI prevents the distributing reservoir from becoming air bound. Oil discharges through still another hole |59 (Figs. I and VI) onto the gears v4| and 42. The right hand end bearing 45 for the shaft 43 is lubricated by oil passing directly down through a duct 45a from the well |25.

The excess oil dripping from the lubricated parts drips back into the main supply within the bottom of the housing 2 and is recirculated by the action of the gears 46--48. In order that the oil level in the base of the machine may be checked from time to time, there is provided a gauge rod which extends down into the base and which at its top has a knob |6| accessible for convenience of grasping it within a recess |62 formed in the wall of the standard l0, see Figs. I and IV. Leakage of oil from the base I at the clearance opening 51 through which the feed dog carrier 56 extends is prevented by a moving sealing means |63 which, as shown in Figs. II, III, and VIII, comprises a plurality of washers |65 which snugly surround the cylindric shank of the carrier 56 and which are pressed against the face of a machined recess |66 in the inner side of the wall 58 by a leaf spring |61. At its lower end the spring |61 is secured to the wall portion 58, and at its upper end is bifurcated to straddle the shank of the feed dog carrier bar 56.

While an illustrative embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in considerable detail it will be understood that numerous changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the various parts without departing from the general principles and scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

In a sewing machine a work supporting member, an arm carrying a needle head over said work supporting member, a needle bar reciprocable in said needle head and carrying a needle at its lower end, complementary stitch forming means in said Work supporting member, work feeding means for advancing work in relation to said stitch forming means, a drive shaft, connections from said shaft to said needle bar, said complementary stitch forming means and to said work feeding means for operating the same, said connections including gearing, an oil sump at the bottom of said work supporting member, a shallow distributing reservoir of large area formed in the top of said member directly over a portion of said connections to said complementary stitch forming means and to said Work feeding means, a. removable cover forming part of the work supporting surface and providing access to said reservoir, a portion of said gearing remote from said stitch forming and Work feeding means being effective upon operation of said drive shaft to elevate oil from said sump, means for delivering said elevated oil to said reservoir, means for delivering oil from said reservoir to bearing surfaces of said connections, and means for delivering excess lubricant from said reservoir to another portion of said gearing located directly beneath said reservoir.

GEORGE SAUER. 

